Japan's Current Account Deficit Hit The Record High In December

"Japan's current-account deficit widened to a record in December on soaring imports, adding to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s challenges as he tries to drive a recovery in the world’s third-biggest economy."

reports Bloomberg.

"The 638.6 billion yen ($6.2 billion) shortfallsurpassed November’s gap of 592.8 billion yen, the finance ministrysaid in Tokyo today"

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China Manufacturing Gauge 6-month Low

"A Chinese manufacturing gauge fell to a six-month low in January as output and orders slowed amid government efforts to rein in excessive credit."

reports Bloomberg on Feb. 1.

"The Purchasing Managers’ Index (EC11CHPM) was at 50.5, the National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said today in Beijing. That matched the 50.5 median estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News and compared with December’s 51 reading. Numbers above 50 signal expansion. "

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